The End of a Great Weekend...

Each Sunday evening Kieran packs his things and we bring him to the bus so he can make his way to the boarding house.  This week we went a little early and spent a bit of time at the beach. 

Evan was having a friend sleepover and they wanted to do some skim boarding at the beach.

Jonathan is also from Canada.  Evan and Jonathan have been best buds since the beginning.

 

One of the things I will miss about Brunei is the sunsets.  The sun sets within a matter of minutes, but if you were to rush away you'd miss the best part.  Several minutes after the sun disappears over the horizon is when the splendor appears.  The colors change right before your eyes and makes me so appreciate the gift of sight.    It was a great ending to a great weekend!

It's My Party...

 

This past weekend was my birthday.  As a child the anticipation of my birthday would make me count the hours until my big day.  The novelty of getting older wore off a long time ago.  In fact, I had to actually calculate how old/young I was this year.  This year it was just me and my boys ringing in my birthday.  We had a lazy morning.  I had contemplated a pajama day, but in the end we did venture out of the house.  The boys and I went to an Italian restaurant in town followed by a foot massage.  I had many phone calls, suprise visits and lovely gifts that left me feeling so loved.  My boys made me 2 beautiful homemade cards and bought me some earrings and a silver ring from Cambodia. So I am now officially another year older and hopefully another year wiser.   

Another Farewell...

 

Well now I am really backtracking.  This post came about a month late.  But it adds to our recent theme of farewells.  Shortly after we found out we were moving back to Canada we began looking for a home for Evan's pet turtles.  The top left is a red ear slider.  He was one of our original turtles and we watched him grow.  He survived our initial learning experience of taking care of turtles, others weren't as resilient as he was.  Later on we met who we've come to call "The turtle lady."  She had 3 Malayan Box turtles that needed homes, so they moved in.  They have been really neat to watch.  Although it was sad to see them go, it was also a relief.  As with most pets, the novelty soon wears off!

First of Many Farewells...

This past week was the start of many farewells.  In our church Kieran is involved in the teenagers group.  This Sunday in honor of him they had a farewell for him at the bowling alley.  Like I have said before, our church has become family to me. It is great to see he too has connected with friends and also the leaders.  

We spent a couple of hours there enjoying everyone's company.  It takes a bit of organizing to get a large group together, but it was so fun.  Thank you for making us feel loved.... Especially my boy!

 

This Morning...

 

OK... For my first confession, this was meant to be post about what I saw this morning.  But my bad blogging habits have made me a few days late.  With that in mind...
This morning after I dropped Evan off at school I headed for a walk on the beach.  I must admit, this use to be a weekly event for me, but lately laziness seems to have crept in.  So after parking, putting my earphones in, and kicking off my flip flops, I took to the sand.  The beach is a beautiful spot and it is seldom busy.  As you can see it was just me and some fishermen. I usually walk a little over an hour.  I walk to a certain spot, sit for awhile and contemplate life.  This morning however, life was all around me.  In the top photo is a Horseshoe Crab.  The Horseshoe Crab is estimated to have been on the earth for 300 million years.  They primarily live in and around shallow ocean waters on soft sandy or muddy bottoms. I think they are uncommon as I have only seen one other in my 2 years here.  This one seemed to be stranded on the shore.  I bravely attempted a rescue with my stick in hand.  He swam away happily.
We also see many jellyfish on the shores from time to time.  Mainly during monsoon season when the seas are rough.  This one looked different from the ones I normally see and warranted a photo.
This is one of the places I will miss and think of when I'm back home in Canada.  I love the warmth, and the sand between my toes.  As always... It is always rewarding when I make the effort to take in the world around me.  

New Beginnings

 

Well like I was telling you I said goodbye to more than just Evan this morning.  Rob accepted a new job a little over a month ago.  While it was "official" then, today was the day he started his new job.  This new job is quite an achievement for my husband.  It has been years in the making as he gained experience in his career.  So although his outfit looks a little loud for the eyes, he wears it proudly.  Rob now officially is a Shell Petroleum employee.  With this has come many changes.  The main change is our location.  At the end of June we will be moving back to our home in Canada.  This move comes with mixed emotions.  I've loved our time here and the opportunities we've had.  I've made some amazing friends who at just the thought of saying goodbye brings me to tears.  But with every ending is a beginning.  We have missed the comforts of home and the familiarity of the known. The things I've missed are things I once took for granted.  Like opening my window and feeling the spring breeze, brushing my teeth with cold water, having a grocery store that has beautiful fresh produce, blackberry picking, seeing a sky full of stars, feeling the cold at Christmas, wandering aimlessly through stores, and sitting with a cup of coffee with my good friends. So as much as I will miss Brunei, I am just as eager to walk on familiar soil.  Just like on our way over, our belongings will once again make the voyage by sea.  The boys and I will be flying and will be stopping over in Hong Kong for a few days before we set sail on BC Ferries.  All is well...

Class Trip to Kuching, Malaysia

This morning was a bustle of excitement.  For both of the boys in my house.  It was a morning of hugs and farewells.  At the crack of dawn I dropped Rob off at the boat for his first day offshore.  More on that to come.  As for Evan and most of his friends the day they were counting down had finally arrived.  At his school there is one big trip that they look forward to, Kuching.  He is not just heading across town to take in the sights, but he is flying for a couple of hours to another country.  I must admit, if I think long and hard of the what ifs I want to hold tightly to my 10 year olds hand. But deep down, I know he will have a fabulous time.  He will be away for 4 days in all.   

 

So after many hugs and photo taking the kids were finally ready to board their bus to the airport.  I think secretly Evan will miss me, as he came back for several hugs before the final farewell.  His parting words were... "Mommy what will you do with Daddy, Kieran and I all gone from the house?"  I tried not to let my Grinchish grin show... Mmmm What to do with 4 days all to myself?  How will I manage??